N: Attractive notes of minerals atop pears, poss lemons?

P: LM, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with nice, applish frt neatly balanced by acidity; Long, albeit slightly faint finish which deftly contraposes swtness & acidity. NICELY made for drinking/quaffing through '18, though as I mentioned on 2/11/17, @ $11.95 the competition is stiff. [As of early Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no available sources for this wine].

N: Attractively swt oak atop lemons

P: MF, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish oak/frt counterbalanced by acidity; Lingering, very slightly tingly finish with *just* a TOUCH of astringency. Nicely done in its style, drink now & through mid '18, poss a BIT longer. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $15].

Addendum: Also tasted 11/12/16 + 1/7, 8/19, & 12/16/17.

“90% Merlot + 5% ea C.S. & C.F. from an 8 ha plot with sandy & clayey soils in the commune of Pleine Selve;”

N: FRAGRANTLY ripe, plummy frt, though stamina MAY be somewhat lacking?

P: Med, poss LM, body; Nice frt on front with some structure mid-P which init builds, then finally unfolds to a Long, very slightly faint finish. As P is not currently up to the aromas, I'm thinking 6-9 mos might improve it? Otherwise, ok, but not (presently) particularly noteworthy. 88-90 pts Vinous (Galloni, 4/1/15) & 87-88 Suckling. [As of early Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $13 & $14.82].

13.5% ABV, 3 mos in Fr oak barrels (500 l) with med toast; Lt filtration;

N: FRAGRANT violets, red rasps, poss pyrazines & some spice? But, poss < ideal stamina?

P: LM body; Almost swtish frt with bracing acidity; Long, VERY slightly tangy, very slightly astringent finish. A drink early style, this might, nonetheless, still benefit from 9 mos or so of addt'l cellaring. 89, 88, & 86 pts winealign.com, & 14/20 El Mundo Vino. [As of early Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $10 & $13].

Addendum: Also tasted 7/8/17

“100% Vranec from 20 yr old vines; 13.9% ABV, 2.9 g/L R.S., 5.02 g/L T.A., & 3.57 pH;”

N: Slightly closed; Earthy/smoky with something underneath I can't quite ID: some type of berries? Intensity lurking?

P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt on entry with balancing acidity; Well balanced & fairly seamless with a Long, VERY slightly tangy/astringent finish. With an addt'l 6-9 mos of cellaring this MIGHT prove to be a GREAT bargain for drinking into & possibly through '19. 90 pts WA, 87 & 86 winealign.com, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, + other scores & medals on wine-searcher's Tasting Notes pg. [As of early Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $9.98 & $14.65].

Addendum: Also tasted 4/7/17 & 1/20/18, the last of which I sensed > longevity than I did either today or on 4/7.